Scotland’s People

August 4, 2009

The Highland Scot to the west and north and the Shetland and Orkney islanders are of Norse origin. They wore the tartan and played the pipes. The Lowland Scot of Anglo-Saxon stock considered Highland Scots savages
Weary of each other through the years ‘they eventually recognize themselves as one nation.
Scotland’s history is revealed to be a country of persistent conflict. In the Highlands there was constant conflict with the Picts and feuds between the clans. In the Lowlands they had to deal with the Romans and later the Norsemen and Vikings. And lastly the bloody conflicts with the British.
The previous counties have been turned into nine divided ‘Regions’: Dunfries & Galloway, Strathclyde, Central, Highland & Islands, Grampian, Tayside, Fife, Lothian and Borders.
At the end of the 13th century when Edward 1 came to the English throne it marked the beginning of centuries of conflict between the Scots and the English.
In 1603 King James V1 of Scotland was proclaimed King James 1 of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. He called his dual kingdoms of England and Scotland by a new name, Great Britain. The English Parliament was unwilling to use this new name but the King forced it on them. Ruling Scotland from London proved difficult at the best of times. A century of warfare was the result.
The massacre of Glencoe, the slaughter at Culloden and the Highland Clearances are a few of the bloody battles that were responsible for the end of the traditional life style of the highlander and the Clan system.
Scotland was under perpetual siege for nearly one and a half thousand years but the spirit of the people has prevailed.
The Scots are a happy, friendly people always ready to welcome visitors to their beautiful land. That was made very apparent to me on my visit in Sept 2007.